1. CONFIDENTIAL
August 2013
Building a major education consulting
company by becoming the leading
provider of solutions for families,
schools, educators, and communities.
2. CONFIDENTIAL 2
The Mission
Persistent Problems in Education and in Society: Bright
Start Educational Programs is positioned to become the
leader in for-profit, literacy-focused, educational consulting
providing educational solutions and distinctive offerings that
have been carefully matched to the federal government’s
recent growth, initiatives, programs, and funding.
Answers for Challenging Problems in Society: Bright Start
Educational Programs is a leading provider of Family
Education and Professional Training programs focusing
strongly on literacy, parenting, family literacy, effective
teaching, and positive communication.
BUILDING A MAJOR EDUCATION CONSULTING COMPANY
3. CONFIDENTIAL 3
History of the Company
Founded in 1995 by Gary Sonora SurdamFounded in 1995 by Gary Sonora Surdam
Acquired by Tribune Education/The Wright Group, OctoberAcquired by Tribune Education/The Wright Group, October
19991999
The Wright Group Acquired by McGraw-Hill Education,The Wright Group Acquired by McGraw-Hill Education,
September 2000September 2000
Re-Acquired through Partnership by Founder Gary SonoraRe-Acquired through Partnership by Founder Gary Sonora
Surdam and Pacific Learning, May 2001Surdam and Pacific Learning, May 2001
Re-Acquired by Founder Gary Sonora Surdam, October 2002Re-Acquired by Founder Gary Sonora Surdam, October 2002
Re-organized and formed Bright Start Educational
Programs LLC August 2011
4. CONFIDENTIAL 4
The Business Model
Family EducationFamily Education
Bright Start Family Literacy workshops focus on increasing parenting, communication, and reading skills with
families and children. In addition to this training, parents receive age-appropriate books, strategies, and activity
packets for their children and home library; the use of these age-appropriate books with their children at home is
demonstrated for parents in an interactive, hands-on style.
Professional Training and Educator CoachingProfessional Training and Educator Coaching
Bright Start Professional Training focuses specifically on new teachers, school leaders, and the use of coaching
strategies. Offerings include Bright Start New Teacher Apprenticeship Training, Bright Start Leadership Team
Academies, and Bright Start Educator Coaching.
Education PublishingEducation Publishing
As part of its growth strategy, Bright Start anticipates acquiring one or more educational publishing companies to
supplement and enhance its educational offerings, the books provided to children, and the ability to expand into
other subjects, e.g., Family Math Literacy, Family Science Literacy.
Professional TrainingProfessional Training
and Educator Coachingand Educator Coaching
Professional TrainingProfessional Training
and Educator Coachingand Educator Coaching
Education PublishingEducation PublishingEducation PublishingEducation Publishing
Bright StartBright Start
Educational ProgramsEducational Programs
Bright StartBright Start
Educational ProgramsEducational Programs
Family EducationFamily EducationFamily EducationFamily Education
5. CONFIDENTIAL 5
Bright Start’s Unique Educational Advantages
Programs based on more than 25 years of academic and sociologicalPrograms based on more than 25 years of academic and sociological
research,research, which blend educational and parenting techniques with the developmental assets that youth need
to succeed.
Positive methods to increase parenting, literacy, and communication skills,Positive methods to increase parenting, literacy, and communication skills,
providing a blend of services to assist in parent education, family support, and literacy.
Practical, interactive methods highlighting the use of literacy materials,Practical, interactive methods highlighting the use of literacy materials,
giving parents and teachers the ability to practice their learning and skills immediately and to integrate them
into school settings and home settings.
A focus on the compassionate “heart” of education,A focus on the compassionate “heart” of education, combining proven literacy and
teaching techniques with positive, life-changing support and affirmation for parents, educators, and students.
A staff of diverse, highly-respected educatorsA staff of diverse, highly-respected educators who have demonstrated in their own careers
a commitment to academics, who excel in their areas of academic interest, and who have exhibited care towards
children, parents, and families.
The ability to customize Bright Start educational programs to meet theThe ability to customize Bright Start educational programs to meet the
needs of the school,needs of the school, schools may choose a combination of English and Spanish materials, or request
an educator familiar with the languages and needs of the parents, e.g., Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese,
Vietnamese, Korean, Armenian, and Arabic.
A commitment to quality bilingual education,A commitment to quality bilingual education, serving the Spanish-speaking, English-
speaking, and bilingual communities. All Bright Start materials are available in correct Spanish, matching
the English materials, and are being developed and/or are available in many other languages.
Services can be provided in any location,Services can be provided in any location, including schools, community centers, adult
education programs, early childhood centers, homeless shelters, etc.
6. CONFIDENTIAL 6
Growth Strategy
Stage 1: Enhance the Platform – establish solid base of
Family Literacy and Professional Training Programs in
key markets across the country and by accessing multiple
funding sources
Stage 2: Accelerate Growth – implement for-profit
education publishing, coaching programs, and
implement media plan
Stage 3: Develop Profitable Operating Units – become
leading provider in each market segment
Stage 4: Major Liquidity Event
Growth Tactics: Sales and Marketing Strategy, Organic
Growth, Acquisitions of Core and Related Businesses,
Strategic Partnerships
8. CONFIDENTIAL 8
The Market Opportunity:
The Federal Government’s Goal: 100% Literacy
The federal government is requiring schools to
take stock of their reading programs and do what it
takes for every child to become a good reader—
early—when it does the most good.
That is why the federal government has committed
substantial funding – over $3.4 billion – in a
variety of programs, included in the No Child Left
Behind Act of 2001, to improve America’s schools
and the literacy of its students.
9. CONFIDENTIAL 9
The Problem: Kids Can’t Read!
The State of Education:The State of Education:
Two out of three (67%) fourth graders cannot read at proficient levels.Two out of three (67%) fourth graders cannot read at proficient levels.
Seven out of ten (70%) inner-city and rural fourth graders cannot read at all.Seven out of ten (70%) inner-city and rural fourth graders cannot read at all.
More than one-third of America’s young children enter KindergartenMore than one-third of America’s young children enter Kindergarten
lacking the preliteracy skills crucial to school success.lacking the preliteracy skills crucial to school success.
National assessments for the past several years indicate that almost 70% ofNational assessments for the past several years indicate that almost 70% of
students entering ninth grade and 60% of twelfth graders can be consideredstudents entering ninth grade and 60% of twelfth graders can be considered
as reading below grade level (i.e., “partial mastery” according to NAEP.)as reading below grade level (i.e., “partial mastery” according to NAEP.)
More than eight million students in grades 4-12 are struggling readers.More than eight million students in grades 4-12 are struggling readers.
In multicultural households where families speak two languages, theIn multicultural households where families speak two languages, the
statistics are worse, with kids who cannot speak, read, or write eitherstatistics are worse, with kids who cannot speak, read, or write either
language well.language well.
Qualified teachers are increasingly difficult to find. With a need for 2.3Qualified teachers are increasingly difficult to find. With a need for 2.3
million teachers in the coming decade, many new teachers are notmillion teachers in the coming decade, many new teachers are not
receiving the tools they need to teach successfully.receiving the tools they need to teach successfully.
Children whose parents read to them on a regular basis, from the veryChildren whose parents read to them on a regular basis, from the very
beginning, are more likely to have age-appropriate language skills.beginning, are more likely to have age-appropriate language skills.
Early literacy development is enhanced when parents provide access to andEarly literacy development is enhanced when parents provide access to and
experiences with books in their homes and positive interactions with theirexperiences with books in their homes and positive interactions with their
children.children.
Low-income children have a particularly
high risk for literacy deficiencies—this
is due in large part to a lack of
experiences with books in their
environment. For instance, a typical
middle-class child enters first grade with
1,000 to 1,700 hours of one-on-one
picture book reading, while her
counterpart from a low-income family
will enter first grade with an average of
25 such hours.
10. CONFIDENTIAL 10
The Cascading Effects of Enhanced Early Childhood EducationThe Cascading Effects of Enhanced Early Childhood Education
and Development: A Life Course Perspectiveand Development: A Life Course Perspective
Cascading Effect of Enhanced Early
Childhood Education and Development: A
Life Course Perspective
•Ready for kindergarten
•Successful start in school
•Fewer behavioral problems
•More rewarding interpersonal relationships
•More successful learning
•Less tobacco and drug use
•Less delinquency and truancy
•Less juvenile justice encounters
•Higher high school graduation rates
•Higher rate of college completion
•Higher inventory of job skills
•Better jobs
•More durable family life
•Higher income
•More upward social mobility
•Greater engagement in civic life
•Better Health and Well-Being
The learning experiences of a child’s first 5-8
years can influence the rest of a child’s life.
This early period in development provides a
foundation that guides children academically,
socially, and emotionally. The exposures,
opportunities, and guidance a young child is
given contribute greatly to the person he or she
will become as an adult.
The cascading effects of positive experiences in
a child’s early years demonstrates how such
experiences can alter children’s circumstances
for the rest of their lives. Achieving such
positive results for children across their entire
lives is unlikely unless thoughtful attention to
their circumstances begins early.
Bright Start programs, services,Bright Start programs, services,
and products will assure greaterand products will assure greater
involvement of parents in theinvolvement of parents in the
development of their child anddevelopment of their child and
provide great hope of a bright startprovide great hope of a bright start
for every child and that promise offor every child and that promise of
a life well-lived.a life well-lived.
11. CONFIDENTIAL 11
The Solution: Bright Start Family Education and
Professional Training Programs
Bright Start provides:Bright Start provides:
Bright Start Family Literacy programs - a six-day interactive workshop for
parents, Training of Trainers model to build school capacity
Bright Start New Teacher Training programs - a four-day interactive
workshop for new teachers,
Bright Start Leadership Team Academies - a three-day intensive workshop,
and
Educator Coaching - year-long educator mentoring
Bright Start programs are designed to address the requirements ofBright Start programs are designed to address the requirements of
major federal government programs andmajor federal government programs and No Child Left Behind ActNo Child Left Behind Act::
Title I
Striving Readers
Even Start Family Literacy
Head Start
Teacher Quality
English Language Acquisition
Adult Education
Many Others
12. CONFIDENTIAL 12
The Payoff: Dramatic Improvements
in Essential Life Skills!
Arroyo ElementaryArroyo Elementary
School in the LosSchool in the Los
Angeles CountyAngeles County
School District hadSchool District had
an Californiaan California
AcademicAcademic
Performance IndexPerformance Index
(API) score growth(API) score growth
goal of 17 pointsgoal of 17 points
Bright StartBright Start
programsprograms
contributed to ancontributed to an
API score increase ofAPI score increase of
53 points – 36 points53 points – 36 points
above the expectedabove the expected
goal.goal.
420
430
440
450
460
470
480
490
500
510
Before Bright Start After Bright Start
14. CONFIDENTIAL 14
Targeted Markets: School Districts and Programs with
Funding in Bright Start Markets
The federal government has committed over $3.4 billion of funding
for literacy education
Schools receiving federal funding are required to provide training and programs
for parents, families, and family literacy
Schools receiving federal funding are required to provide professional
development and training to teachers, staff, and school leaders.
Specific funding exists for all Bright Start markets including literacy, family
literacy, parenting, bilingual education, student achievement, early childhood
education, and educator professional development.
Bright Start Family Literacy and Professional Training programs
have been designed to meet these needs
Provides a complete educational consulting solution.
Bright Start target locations match funding for Bright Start
solutions:
New York ♦ Las Vegas ♦ Ozark Mountains
Chicago ♦ Miami ♦ Underrepresented, Rural
Denver ♦ Los Angeles America
Dallas ♦ Washington, D. C. ♦ Head Start
El Paso ♦ Appalachia
15. CONFIDENTIAL 15
Sales and Marketing Key Strategy: Profiting from a Mix
of Sales Professionals and Educational Professionals
Bright Start profits from a mix of sale professionals, educational
professionals, and sale consultants.
Bright Start’s sales and marketing strategy reflects the market, the
customer, Bright Start products, and effective, aggressive sales
strategies.
The sales process builds on the talents, training, experience, and
expertise of sales professionals and educational professionals to sell
Bright Start products to customers in key positions at school districts,
schools, and programs.
Bright Start sales force to be expanded by 50 educational leaders and
sales professionals by the year 2015: each selling $850,000 per year for
a revenue forecast of $34,000,000 per year.
16. CONFIDENTIAL 16
The Competitive Landscape
Competitors consist principally of publishing companiesCompetitors consist principally of publishing companies
Wright Group/McGraw-Hill
Rigby, Harcourt Achieve Division
Pacific Learning
Scholastic
Creative Teaching Press
Competitors typically sell “packaged” materials for their family literacyCompetitors typically sell “packaged” materials for their family literacy
component, leaving the school to provide the parent training themselves.component, leaving the school to provide the parent training themselves.
There is no other system of delivery that compares to Bright Start. TheThere is no other system of delivery that compares to Bright Start. The
competition may have a component that Bright Start offers, but none has everycompetition may have a component that Bright Start offers, but none has every
component. Bright Start is exclusive in that it involves family literacy,component. Bright Start is exclusive in that it involves family literacy,
parenting, literacy, professional development, educator training, trainingparenting, literacy, professional development, educator training, training
materials, literacy materials, curriculum, bilingual education, and consultants.materials, literacy materials, curriculum, bilingual education, and consultants.
A Bright Start sale encompasses all of these aspects.A Bright Start sale encompasses all of these aspects.
No one has such a comprehensive, well-researched, customer-friendly programNo one has such a comprehensive, well-researched, customer-friendly program
with such positive impacts for all involved—the student, parents, and thewith such positive impacts for all involved—the student, parents, and the
schoolschool..
18. CONFIDENTIAL 18
Accelerating Bright Start’s Growth
In addition to growing its core business of providing Family
Literacy and Professional Training programs, Bright Start
will seek to accelerate growth through:
Acquisition of complementary businesses
Entry into new market segments though establishing
new endeavors and/or acquisitions
Strategic partnerships
Developing new products
20. CONFIDENTIAL 20
Management Team
Gary Sonora Surdam, President and CEOGary Sonora Surdam, President and CEO
Mr. Surdam is an educator, entrepreneur, businessman and visionary whose unique career
experience has made him one of America's top leaders in educational consulting. After 13 years of
classroom teaching experience. Surdam developed a vision of empowering parents, teachers and
school administrators to help children succeed in school and life. Surdam's innovations have united
business and education to make academic success a reality for students, teachers and administrators
throughout the nation. Surdam earned a Liberal Studies degree from California State University at
Long Beach, with majors in English and Elementary Education. Upon obtaining his teaching
credential from the State of California in 1988, he proved his potential to the Los Angeles Unified
School District, receiving a rarely given, highly prized endorsement from both his school's principal
and the School District to the prestigious Administrative Academy at California State University, Los
Angeles. Following his post-graduate work in Education at San Diego University, Surdam went on to
a distinguished teaching career.
Betty J. Davis, Ed.D., Senior Vice President of Sales and MarketingBetty J. Davis, Ed.D., Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing
Dr. Davis is the President of BJD and Associates, a consulting company specializing in leadership
training and development, team building, and parent/community involvement. Prior to establishing
her consulting company, Dr. Davis was Vice President of Eastern and Midwestern Development for
Edison Schools, Inc. where she worked for 5 ½ years negotiating contracts with school districts and
non-profit organizations for the purpose of establishing quality schools. Before joining Edison, Dr.
Davis served for six years as the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum Management for the
School District of the City of Pontiac in Michigan. There she developed a new school, new school
programs, established business and community partnerships, was successful in raising student
achievement, and created a leadership academy for teachers and administrators. Dr. Davis began her
professional career as a teacher in the Detroit Public School System. She served in the positions of
Language Arts Coordinator, Assistant Principal, Achievement Administrator, and Principal within
the same system.
Management Team, Continued...Management Team, Continued...
